The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

Has anyone ever installed a shoulder harness designed for a race car? I was looking at some SFI approved harnesses but not sure if they would be long enough to work. Thoughts?

8170 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:40 pmHas anyone ever installed a shoulder harness designed for a race car?

How about a harness designed for a plane by a company that makes harnesses for race cars? (Hooker Harness)

That's what I am installing, but I was reading the AC on restraints and figured I would ask if anyone had gone the route of SFI approved harness installation. I am 100% confident either the Hooker or SFI harness would withstand more than the human body could.

Jack Hooker told me at Sun N Fun a few years ago that the harness his company sells will withstand over 40 G's. During testing with a Cessna cockpit from a I believe a C-182, the rear carry thru spar failed and bent without the harness failing.

Jack used to always include his personal "guarantee": "If you break a Hooker Harness, we'll replace them free of charge". I don't recall that he's ever had to honor the "warranty" . In any event, the Hooker installation is probably the easiest/simplest and Jack's pioneering of the STC for "us" required a lot of time, FAA "demonstrations", energy and significant expense on his part. Jack is among a number of folks who have contributed much to the Association over many years of very active membership. Mac

I have the hooker shoulder belt install in my 140 and got to test them during a ground loop in 2007.

The shoulder belts were not likely tight enough, so upper body was able to move side to side. Lap belt kept me in the seat, however the prospect of your head whacking something is daunting.

All I can say is, before landing , tighten the seat belts to "Aerobatic Tight" i.e. almost painful.